eel
UK[iːl]US[iːl]
n
A long, thin, snake-like fish with smooth, slippery skin.
Etymology
The word 'eel' descends directly from the Old English 'ǣl', a term with deep Germanic roots, related to Dutch 'aal' and German 'Aal'. Its ultimate origin is traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root h₂él-/h₂ol-, meaning "to shine, be red, brown," a reference to the creature's often glossy, burnished skin. This ancient descriptive term for appearance evolved specifically to name this distinct, sinuous fish. The word's journey is a direct one, passing from Proto-Indo-European into the Germanic languages and arriving in English with its core meaning intact, its form simplified over centuries into the compact modern word.
Analysis
The word is a simplex form. It is derived from the Old English 'ǣl', which is of Germanic origin.
Examples
The fisherman caught a large silver eel in the river.
Jellied eels are a traditional dish in some parts of London.
Its body moved through the water with the smooth, undulating motion of an eel.